Questions for accountants - are the big 4 usually biased towards CAs?

[MasterXan]

^ topic

whenever I'm looking at the job opportunities at E&Y or KPMG for example, they are usually more geared towards people who are looking for the CA designation or people who are CAs. Are there no jobs for CGAs or CMAs at the big 4?

Or are the lines between each designation really blurred since that's what an accounting professor told me. Would a CGA or CMA get the same consideration as a CA when applying for the same job even though it clearly says "looking for a CA" or "planning to become a CA" or somewhere along those lines? Thanks.

:D

[bobaroo]

The reason the big 4 are looking for CAs is that only CAs can perform audits of public companies. Being a CGA or CMA won't help.

[george benjamin]

The reason the big 4 are looking for CAs is that only CAs can perform audits of public companies. Being a CGA or CMA won't help.

Hello,

Sorry but thats not true.

CGA's and CMA(i think also cma's) can do public accounting=CA firms.

In ontario atleast.

[charliebrown]

Hello,

Sorry but thats not true.

CGA's and CMA(i think also cma's) can do public accounting=CA firms.

In ontario atleast.

You are correct, anyone holding a valid public accounting license (a separate license/fee required even for CAs) can perform audits in Ontario.

That doesnt mean a multi-national company will start going to a local CGA to get their financial statements audited (even though they technically can).

So, i'd say part of the reason Big4 hires mainly CA students could be tradition & attitudes towards each designation. Second, CA students know they need the assurance hours to get their license, while CMAs/CGAs can get their license without this requirement (cmas/cgas please correct me regarding your practical experience requirements). As such, that could drive CMA/CGA students away from big4?

[charliebrown]

^ topic

whenever I'm looking at the job opportunities at E&Y or KPMG for example, they are usually more geared towards people who are looking for the CA designation or people who are CAs. Are there no jobs for CGAs or CMAs at the big 4?

Or are the lines between each designation really blurred since that's what an accounting professor told me. Would a CGA or CMA get the same consideration as a CA when applying for the same job even though it clearly says "looking for a CA" or "planning to become a CA" or somewhere along those lines? Thanks.

:D

To answer your second question, i'd say it depends on the job opening & salary expectation. Jobs outside of public accounting typically say "Accounting designation (CA, CMA, CGA) preferred" without specifying which one is REQUIRED...Like i said in other posts, the letters behind your name will probably get you into the interview, the stories you can tell about the type of work you've done ultimately lands the job offers.

(although knowing the right ppl will probably open up more interviews as well)

Due to current market conditions, i'd be very surprised for licensed CAs to start accepting jobs that target CGAs, and CMAs to a lesser extent

[sucka]

Big 4 looks for CA's b/c they are usually the younger crowd that are starting off in the entry level auditing area. I see mostly people higher up in the food chain (older too) going for the CMA's, where most are already managers, executives, financial anlaysts etc., so it doesn't make sense for the Big 4 to target ppl with CMA's for entry level auditing. It's possible but not likely.

[george benjamin]

Actually, Big 4 hires many different types of people.
Beleive it or not, Big 4 also hires lawyers. No one expected that, did they?

[Ohboiya]

Actually, Big 4 hires many different types of people.
Beleive it or not, Big 4 also hires lawyers. No one expected that, did they?

big 4 will hire any idiot who'll work stupid hours for stupid pay

[commie]

Actually, Big 4 hires many different types of people.
Beleive it or not, Big 4 also hires lawyers. No one expected that, did they?

you are kidding right?? 'no one expected that?'
???
every company hires lawyers....

What you think the Big 4 firm just have accountants working for them?

Beleive it or not, Big 4 also hires mailroom clerks, custodians, admin assitants, marketing folks, sales folks, financial analysts, internal support staff....No one expected that, did they?

[Ohboiya]

Beleive it or not, Big 4 also hires mailroom clerks, custodians, admin assitants, marketing folks, sales folks, financial analysts, internal support staff....No one expected that, did they?

hahahahaaha ... nice :)

[george benjamin]

you are kidding right?? 'no one expected that?'
???
every company hires lawyers....

What you think the Big 4 firm just have accountants working for them?

Beleive it or not, Big 4 also hires mailroom clerks, custodians, admin assitants, marketing folks, sales folks, financial analysts, internal support staff....No one expected that, did they?

NO.

Big 4 hires lawyers to perform services for clients.

Does Mcdonalds do that? No. They hire lawyers for themselves, not as a service.

Nice cheap shot.

[commie]

NO.

Big 4 hires lawyers to perform services for clients.

Does Mcdonalds do that? No. They hire lawyers for themselves, not as a service.

Nice cheap shot.

There was nothing wrong with what you posted...but just the way you worded it...it came across as very rude and arrogant...Which seems to be the way you like to word alot of your posts around here...

BTW - there is nothing new or surprising that Big 4 provides legal services to clients.....they have a large Taxation practice that has some of the countries brightest tax lawyers in it....they also provide M&A guidance to corporate clients.....A few years back E&Y bought one of the large Bay St. law firm..

[george benjamin]

There was nothing wrong with what you posted...but just the way you worded it...it came across as very rude and arrogant...Which seems to be the way you like to word alot of your posts around here...

BTW - there is nothing new or surprising that Big 4 provides legal services to clients.....they have a large Taxation practice that has some of the countries brightest tax lawyers in it....they also provide M&A guidance to corporate clients.....A few years back E&Y bought one of the large Bay St. law firm..

My post wasnt intended to be rude,arrogant, or provacative. Sorry if you saw it as such.

[weedb0y]

big 4 will hire any idiot who'll work stupid hours for stupid pay

Word. I got E&Y guys over sitting right beside my desk and boy, hes been here for more than 12 hrs..poor kid

[getliquid]

why do they go for CA's rather than CMA CGA's?

if you had a choice of BMW HONDA and TOYOTA which is the obvious choice? it takes A LOT more work to get CA compared to CMA and CGA, i have full respect for whoever can go the CA route

[neohh]

According to Auditing 3rd Canadian Edition, CGAs and CMAs are not fully licensed throughout Canada. Alberta's Public Accounting Act of 1988 licenses CAs, CMAs and CGAs. BC and Quebec license only CAs and CGAs.

It's not hard to see why CA dominate the public accounting sector, then CGA, then CMA. (CGA is licensed in more provinces than CMA)

Most importantly, prior to 2002, only CA can perform audits and review in Ontario. Most companies have their headoffice in GTA, and it's not easy for them to change their preference towards certain accounting designation in just 4-5 years.

In terms of salary, CAs still get paid more by a fair margin. I believe the recent salary statistic shows CGA and CMA's average salary are about the same level. (A lot of CPA coming to Canada opt for CGA because they can earn Canadian designation in an accelerated program and be able to work at the same time) I do see CGA and CMA getting more exposure in media these days, and their salary level are certainly moving up in a steady pace.

[michelb]

For what it's worth, my sister has a CMA and has worked for PriceCooperWaterhouse and now works for E&Y (and I think she refused a position at KPMG (I think she was offered similar positions at E&Y and KPMG but I believe she might have chosen E&Y partially because one of our uncles is an exec at KPMG and she did not want it to appear that her hiring was nepotism).

Not sure if the province makes any difference as she has pretty much always worked in Montreal (I think she might have initially worked in Ottawa for a short period of time).